By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ATHENS — When the shots didn’t fall, the South Point Pointers did.

Despite their shooting woes, the Pointers still managed to rally from a 15-point deficit to get within 2 points in the fourth quarter only to fall 58-55 to the Wheelersburg Pirates on Sunday in the Division 3 district semifinals at the Ohio University Convocation Center.

South Point shot 17-of-50 from the field for 34 percent and a mere 2-of-14 from the 3-point line.

The Pointers were 9-of-22 from the field in the first half and a mere 4-of-15 in the third quarter.

Conversely, the Pirates were 22-of-45 from the floor for 48.8 percent and a sizzling 7-of-10 from the 3-pointer arc. The Pirates shot 14-of-26 from the floor in the first half for 53.8 percent.

Wheelersburg (20-4) shot 7-of-10 from the 3-point line for the game. The Pointers were just 2-of-14 from behind the arc.

Wheelersburg (20-4) took a 10-2 lead to start the game and stretched it to 19-10 with 40 seconds left on a 10-foot by Braylon Rucker.

A 3-point play by the Pointers’ Xathan Haney cut the deficit to 19-13 just 6 seconds later.

A layup by Elijah Wilburn had the Pointers down 30-19 with 4:03 left in the half.

But the Pirates opened up their biggest lead of the game at 35-20 on a layup by Luke Swords.

Carter Smith had a 3-point play at the 2:08 mark and it was 35-23 and Smith traded baskets with the Pirates Landon McGraw and it was 37-25 at the half.

The Pointers stayed within range and it was 44-35 on their first 3-pointer of the game as Ethan Layne connects with 23 seconds on the clock.

Smith hit a foul shot but Hunter Bivens knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Wheelersburg took a 47-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

A 10-footer by Smith, 2 free throws by Layne and 3 foul shots by Haney and the lead had shrunk to 52-50 with 3:02 to play.

A putback by Rucker, a free throw by Bivens and a free throw by Devon Lattimore gave the Pirates a 56-50 lead with 1:23 to play.

A layup by Lattimore made it 58-50 when Caleb Lovely buried a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 58-53.

After the Pirates missed 2 free throws, Smith had a putback with 3 seconds to play.

But on the inbounds pass, the Pointers were unable to stop the ball as time ran out.

South Point (14-10) was led by Smith with 19 points with Haney getting a double-double as he had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Wilburn had 9 rebounds.

Lattimore scored 25 points for the Pirates while McGraw scored 11.

Wheelersburg plays Northwest at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Convocation Center in the district finals.

South Point 13 12 12 18 = 55

Wheelersburg 19 18 10 11 = 58

SOUTH POINT (14-10): Caleb Lovely 1 1 4-6 9, Elijah Wilburn 1 0 1-2 3, Xathan Haney 2 0 7-9 11, Josh Childers 1 0 2-2 4, Brayden Hanshaw 1 0 0-0 2, Carter Smith 8 0 3-5 19,  Ethan Layne 1 1 2-2 7. Totals: 17-50 19-26 55. 3-pt goals: 2-14. Rebounds: O-16 D-20 = 36 (Haney 10, Wilburn 9). Team/deadball rebounds: 7. Assists: 4 (Haney 2). Steals: 6 (Layne 2, Smith 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

WHEELERSBURG (20-4): Braylon Rucker 3 0 2-4 8, Devon Lattimore 5 4 3-7 25, Xander Mowery 1 1 1-5 6, Luke Swords 1 0 0-0 2, Landon McGraw 4 1 0-2 11, Logan Adkins 0 1 0-0 3, Hunter Bivens 1 0 1-2 3, Kenyon Evans 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 22-45 7-22 58. 3-pt goals: 7-10. Rebounds: O-8 D-24 = 32 (Mowery 5, Lattimore 5).. Team/deadball rebounds: 6. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.